Millions of people consume coffee daily, making it one of the most popular caffeinated beverages in the world. Whether an espresso, latte, Americano, or mocha, coffee fans adore a unique, strong taste and the burst of energy every sip brings.
Consumers of coffee easily purchase a serving from their local café right at the corner of the street. However, the trend and culture of owning one’s coffee machine at home have picked up the pace.
In America, most public desire a cup of coffee every morning before starting their schedule. It is that yearning for caffeine that gives them the go for the rest of the day. Modern-day coffee machines are designed and built to cater to many consumers who prefer preparing their coffee simply and conveniently.
Among the wide-selling coffee machines in America, the Rocket R58 has strong prominence and is owned by thousands of Americans today. So why a domestic and commercial grade coffee machine made of stainless steel remains the ideal choice of thousands of Americans, and that they choose it over a $2.99 shot of espresso from the local café a block away from their homes – let us find it in our review!
The R58 is a substantial dual-boiler espresso machine offering a silent, simple, and heavy-duty experience without nitty-gritty details to make you nervous. The Espresso R58 is a staple of Rocket Espresso Milano’s most popular class of espresso machines. The R58 is a hallmark of the Italian company’s engineering excellence and precision inbuilt quality.
Rocket Espresso R58 Dual Boiler Espresso Machine
- The Rocket Espresso R58 features dual boilers, each regulated by a PID temperature controller for consistent brewing. In addition, its rotary pump is near-silent and lets you plumb the machine directly into a water line for even easier operation.
Interesting fact: The Rocket R58 machine is “handmade” to offer a dynamic experience to consumers.
In the major highlights, the R58 comprises dual copper boilers, dual PID temperature control, and a commercial-grade rotary pump. The main factor is that the R58 delivers espresso shots in a consistent run. This is done by the dual boilers, whereas the PID control lets users set filters to the machine according to their preference.
Let’s dig into some technical specifications:
- Height: 16.25”
- Width: 12.25”
- Depth: 17.5”
- Weight: 29 kg
- Material: Stainless steel
- Drip Tray: Stainless steel
- Drip Tray Cover: Stainless steel
- Drainable Drip Tray: Available
Reservoir
- Capacity: 2.5 liter
- Material: Plastic
- Removable: Yes
- Low Water Shutoff: Yes
Semi-automatic Steam Wand
- Material: Stainless steel
- Insulated: Available
- Movement: Full rotation
- Steam Tip Holes: 2
Controls
Temperature: External digital control
- Brew Temperature Adjustment: F or C
- Steam Boiler Temperature Adjustment: F or C
- Display: LCD
- Disable Display: Available
- Integrated Shot Timer: Not Available
- On/Off Timer: Not Available
- Cleaning Reminder: Not Available
- Flow Profiling: Not Available
- Volumetric Serving: Not Available
- Pressure Gauges: Pump and Steam boiler
Cup Tray
- Material: Stainless steel
Portafilters
- Materials: Chrome plated brass with plastic handle
- Type: Commercial grade 58 mm
- Portafilters Included: Single and Double (spouted)
- Baskets: Single, double, and backflush disk
- Tamper: Rocket tamper
Group Head
- Type: E61
- Maintenance Guide: Urnex Full Circle
Boilers
- Material: Copper and Brass
- Brew Boiler Size: 0.58 liter
- Steam Boiler Size: 1.7 liter
- Boilers Automatically Filling: Available
- Insulation: Available
Pump
- Pump Type: Rotary vane
- Brew Pressure Recommendation: 9Bar
- Adjustable Brew Pressure: Available
Other
- Usage: Domestic/Commercial
- Commercial Certifications: Not Available
- Wattage: 1400 W
- Plug Type: 15 amp
Inside the box
- Portafilters
- Baskets
- Tamper
- PID Controller
- User Manual
- Training Guide (DVD)
- Cleaning Cloth
First impressions
During operation, the machine must sit for about six to eight minutes to let the espresso boiler catch temperature. The steam boiler also gets heated, meanwhile. Whole Latte Love on YouTube recommends leaving your machine 10-20 minutes before one starts using it. This allows for the regulation of thermal stability and gives consistent espresso shots.
By default, the espresso boiler is set to 106 C, and it is the reading inside the boiler. At the group head, the temperature is supposed to be slightly lower. One can go with 11 C. You can easily learn more about this in a chart provided in the user manual.
The R58 takes no time to produce shots when set at a shot temperature of about 95 C. Normally, the pre-infusion must not last more than 30 seconds, and this machine allows you four seconds before the coffee is extracted.
Steam pressure on the Rocket R58 is 1BAR (factory settings) and can be increased to 9BAR through the PID controller. You can adjust the steam boiler temperature in Celsius terms if you are a fan of high or low pressures.
This is a ground-breaking feature as it offers so much convenience. Be free to touch the steam wand because it is always cool on the surface. It may feel like it gets hotter while steaming, but it does not reach an unbearable temperature. On the other hand, the steam arm makes it easier to position oneself for steaming the milk.
Moreover, the machine on the exterior is durable. The stainless steel can be cleaned with one swipe of the cloth provided in the box. It has a sleek and stylish design and carries somewhat an old-fashioned vibe to it. The machine looks beautiful, sitting in an enclosure, and would complement its surroundings.
Main features:
Dual Boiler:
The R58 comprises two copper boilers as the machine’s primary function is to provide users with instant espresso shots. It is also compatible with functioning in a commercial environment where the operation of the device would be constant. Each boiler carries a specific function: brewing or steaming pressure.
On the contrary, single boiler machines usually have one boiler carrying out both functions of brew and steam. You do not need an engineering background to figure it out but having two boilers means efficiency and less pressure on the machine.
Plumbing feature:
A user can easily connect the machine to any water hose. While the product would not carry plumbing lines and equipment in the box, you can connect it to any water source if you still want to save time by avoiding refilling your water tank. Instead, you can rather spend these few minutes preparing some cappuccinos, as we did!
PID Controller:
The feature offering the greatest convenience, the PID control allows any user to regulate the temperature to prepare a top-quality espresso. New users can commit some mistakes in this area, as they might fail to keep an optimum temperature. It is important to know that if your espresso came out tasting bitter, you might need to regulate the temperature next time. In a conventional setting, users would need to open up the entire machine to set the right temperature, but with a PID controller, it can be managed with the touch of a button.
Rotary Pump (commercial grade):
Espresso machines are usually very noisy, and you would need to scream at the top of your lungs to utter a single word when speaking to someone. Fortunately, with R58, you are exempted from going through that shambolic experience. Instead, you can make an espresso shot without waking up your entire neighborhood.
Merits?
Style:
One of the most important highlights of this product is the craftsmanship. Normally, machines have an ugly appearance, and they appear to tarnish the appeal and beauty of your kitchen. However, the Rocket R58, from its appearance, looks like a charming addition to your kitchen. Since it was constructed by hand in Milan, Italy, the engineers attributed style as a primary plus point of the machine.
Safety:
The frothing wand is insulated, offering greater safety to users. Most of us can resonate with the disappointing experience of accidentally making contact with uninsulated wands and burning our skin. However, the wand never sustains hot temperatures and allows greater safety for users.
Better extraction means better taste:
Most people do not pay attention to this, but those gauges on the machine have a great purpose. First, they indicate the pressure, and one must notice that. Since it is at the front, you can easily monitor the pump pressure and improve your coffee’s taste.
Height adjustment:
A coffee machine like a car’s seat? The Rocket R58 has height-adjustable feet where one can adjust the height by 0.75”.You are good if you remove the adjustable feed’s removable part. This feature was added to remodel the product’s design in 2017. No other changes were added.
Silent operation:
Your coffee machine does not sound like an eight-cylinder car engine, which is a major pro. Its silent operation has won over many customers and even surprised us as our instincts were ready to cover our ears. Modern machines are supposed to cut the noise, and one breathes a sigh of relief every time you turn on Rocket R58.
Cup warmer:
It is arguably not a significant feature, but a cup warmer can be a life savior. We tend to get distracted by our surroundings and often leave our cup of coffee to dry out in the air. This cup warmer can save you from wasting a few cups and keep the temperature perfect.
Problems?
Although the machine has not endured any mechanical problems and functions flawlessly every time, the manufacturer has learned from various customer reviews of the past variants regarding leakages. As a result, the R58 does not have any leakage problem. However, one is still not sure about the power consumption of the boiler. Its considerably high power consumption often pushes customers to choose the alternative single boiler heat exchanger.
On the other hand, we think the PID controller is not so user-friendly. If a person is not so tech-savvy or finds it difficult to find their way through a digital user interface, they might face difficulty. The PID is also attached to the machine and can get damaged if you are not careful.
The Rocket R58 is priced at $3000, which could raise eyebrows and compel a buyer to view cheaper alternatives before making a final decision. However, it is Rocket, and with that name comes many variables in terms of quality, durability, and excellence, which is why such a price point is justifiable, in our opinion.
You ask: Why do I need a dual boiler?
Would a user even require a dual one if the function is essentially carried out with a single boiler? It saves a user a lot of time in recovery, and they can make “shots after shots” without wasting time.
Plus, each boiler has individual temperature controls, allowing greater precision. She notes that these small details combine to form a great espresso experience and better coffee every time.
Rocket R58 or Local Café?
If you are still wondering why you need to splash a few grand on a coffee machine, then understand that it has its importance. The R58 is a work of art; it is not just a machine you use daily and forget about. Instead, it has a massive presence, and visitors to your home would not help but ask about it. So, expect to get a lot of questions and prepare to make as many cups for your guests.
Meanwhile, this coffee machine is close to having a small café in your home. If you are a fan of barista-quality espresso shots at a reasonable price, then this machine is the way to go. Many of us are serious espresso enthusiasts, and it is built to provide the same café experience.
At the same time, the machine carries simple features and is very functional, which offers even more convenience. For example, the dual boiler, PID controller, pressure gauge, cup warmer, insulation, and analog gauges all offer a one-of-a-kind coffee-making experience.
Plus, it is Italian.
Those who have corporate jobs and cannot afford to take a detour to Starbucks every morning while commuting to work can have the same or even better experience with Rocket R58. The machine does all the work for you, and you do not need 1000 hours of barista work experience to know the contemporary details.
Grind your beans, put your portafilter in place, and bingo. Finish with the pre-infusion and see how the machine extracts a unique aroma from the beans. It does not get any simpler than this and would save you tremendous time every morning with the dual boiler.
The Rocket R58, in comparison
Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine
- The Expobar Office Lever is a prosumer-grade espresso machine with a heat-exchange boiler. Expobar’s barista-focused attention to detail is readily apparent in the Lever’s traditional design elements and professional components, such as the E61 group and adjustable brew pressure.
The product which qualifies up to the mark of Rocket R58 is the Expobar Office Leva DB. It is cheap but does not have the same profile as the R58. Both can produce top-of-the-line espresso shots, but the Leva DB does come shy of a few important features. However, the recovery element on both machines is fast, and the machines carry optimum boiler capacities as standard.
The Leva DB has a slightly larger drip tray,y which is often difficult to remove and would take a few minutes before it is fully out. In comparison, the R58’s tray moves in and out swiftly as if it were greased. However, the size of it is not so big.
The Rocket R58 is relatively easier in function than the Leva DB, which is evident in its plumbing system. The R58 offers a readily available plumb-in feature or straight from the reservoir inside. The Leva DB is different because it brings three levels: reservoir only, reservoir and plumb, and plumb only.
Standing in performance and durability, the R58 goes a long way in offering seamless operation. It can exceed the manufacturer’s warranty without developing any problems. In addition, it is flexible for both domestic and commercial applications.
How does it rate?
The major elements to consider are style, performance, espresso quality, design, durability, safety, functionality, convenience, and price. With that being said, here is our rating of The Rocket R58:
- Espresso Quality: 10/10
- Layout & Design: 10/10
- Performance: 10/10
- Style: 10/10
- Durability: 10/10
- Functionality: 9/10
- Convenience: 10/10
- Safety: 10/10
- Price: 8/10
Conclusion
At the end of our detailed review, the Rocket R58 espresso machine is a very innovative product. It is not just a coffee machine but a product that becomes a prominent feature of your daily lifestyle. Just like your smartphone, it allows you a heap of relief and convenience due to its modern features and engineering excellence.
We could not help but marvel at how it carries out each function it is built for. But, on the other hand, the machine being remarkably beautiful in design does win for us because it makes us feel good about ourselves.
The Rocket R58 is highly recommended and a top-quality product that can proceed with absolute confidence if you want to purchase.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
